For this portfolio I am going to share the volunteer work I have had the honor of participating in through Samaritan's Purse. Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26th, 2024, and traveled north throughout Western North Carolina. Many populated and rural areas throughout the mountains have been absolutely devastated and unrecognizable due to the catastrophic flooding, disastrous winds, and power outages Helene caused. 

As a student at App State, I have lived in Boone North Carolina for the past five years and have truly loved every second of it. It was heartbreaking to see the place I love so much be destroyed as I call this beautiful mountain town my home. As a member of the Boone community who was fortunate enough, to not have my personal belongings and living space impacted by Helene, I felt it was my responsibility to contribute and help bring relief to those who were not as fortunate as myself.

Working with Samaritan's Purse has been an overwhelming experience as I have been able to directly speak with individuals who have suffered great loss and hear their testimonies. I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to serve others and lend a helping hand to those in need. Some of the work I was able to participate in includes mudding out homes, sorting through and cleaning off belongings with homeowners, mold removal, and demolition. Working on the demolition crew we were able to rid homes of any contaminants so the homeowner has the ability to rebuild within their current home. This means removing drywall, insulation, paneling, screws, nails, appliances, toilets, bathtubs, baseboards, and more. Essentially our goal was to remove anything from the home that sustained water damage or had the potential to become a contaminate. This is crucial to the safety of the residents and also gives them the opportunity to still live in the place they call home.